Balclutha couple die in microlight crash

The scene of the plane crash on a property in Wright Rd, near Owaka. Photo by Samuel White.
The scene of the plane crash on a property in Wright Rd, near Owaka. Photo by Samuel White.
A Balclutha couple were killed in a microlight crash near Kaka Point yesterday morning.

A police spokesman said a man aged 30 and a woman aged 26 died when the plane they were in crashed on a farm in Glenomaru, between Owaka and Kaka Point.

They are understood to be from the Balclutha area.

A joint investigation into the cause of the crash will be carried out by police and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is sending three investigators to the scene today.

A CAA spokesman said the pair were the only occupants of a Rans S6 microlight, which left in good conditions from Balclutha aerodrome, where it was based.

There were no witnesses to the accident and the wreckage was found by the son of the farm's owner. The farmer then alerted the Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

The police special photographic unit was sent to the scene and its photos will be shared with CAA investigators.

Otago Aero Club president Colin Chalmers said the pair, who were a couple, bought the plane from the Otago Aero Club.

''It's our old plane.''

He declined to comment further, because he did not have any details about why the plane crashed.

A St John spokesman said two ambulances were sent to the scene and two helicopters mobilised.

The helicopters were stood down once paramedics arrived at the scene and assessed the situation.

Police were called to the scene about 10.15am. The Fire Service also responded to the crash.

Police said yesterday they were in the process of notifying the next of kin of the deceased couple.